Borders, Ports & Logistics Special Interest Group

Ilona is an expert in international trade compliance with over eight years of experience, specialising in import operations. As the lead for the Imports Advisory Practice, she excels in managing complex import processes, conducting customs and broker invoice audits, and developing policies that streamline cross-border trade while ensuring strict adherence to global regulations. Her expertise spans customs requirements in the MENAT and EMEA regions, where she has successfully mitigated risks and optimised compliance strategies for various organisations. 

Ilona has an in-depth understanding of international customs regulations, staying ahead of legislative changes to proactively address challenges and assess their impact on business operations. Her strong focus on import compliance and her analytical approach to auditing have been pivotal in achieving seamless and compliant import operations across multiple markets. 

Currently, as a digital trade and customs specialist within Academy Strategic Projects, Ilona leads key initiatives around cross-border movements and the UK 2025 Border Strategy. She spearheads projects that leverage disruptive technologies to optimise import processes and enhance global trade facilitation. Her expertise aims to ensure that businesses remain competitive and compliant in the rapidly evolving landscape of international trade and drive innovation and efficiency in cross-border operations. 

Dan Balshaw MCIEx is Head of Customs Technical and Development and a member of the leadership team at CustomsLink Ltd (part of the Stena Line Group), where he oversees all technical aspect of customs and projects for international clients. In this senior role, he drives strategic compliance and process optimisation.
Dan has a influence on shaping CustomsLink and FreightLinks customs and border tools with innovations such as Haulier Border Toolkit for port passes (GMR, PBN, ELO and Portbase) along with SSGB and ICS2, ELO has been in use with CustomsLink since the launch and have they have developed a direct API tool for traders ensuring seamless operations ahead of the full mandatory rollout by April 2026.